The Sporting News is going through its top 25 preseason college football teams one by one each day. Today, Iowa finally showed up, and did so at #10. As I wrote in a comment at the site:

I’m more comfortable with the #17 ranking in the coaches’ poll. As I wrote elsewhere, “Iowa has a number of very good returning starters, including QB Drew Tate and RB Albert Young (and explosive backup running back Damien Sims). But it is going to be difficult to replace to WRs Ed Hinkel and Clinton Solomon, LBs Chad Greenway and Adbul Hodge, and two four-year starters at cornerback.”

I’m frankly more concerned about the loss of Hinkel and Solomon than anything, as Iowa has some good linebackers who, though they won’t quite be Greenway and Hodge, are still good. Look for TE Scott Chandler, who’s rarely mentioned in these types of previews, to get a lot of catches this year.

If all goes according to plan, Iowa should enter the Ohio St. game with a 4-0 record (though Iowa St., as usual, will be tough), and it’s at home.

It’s also interesting that the Sporting News preview includes this quote from an anonymous Big Ten coach: “I don’t see this team winning the Big Ten. Iowa’s talent doesn’t stack up with Michigan’s and Ohio State’s.” And yet, TSN has Michigan ranked #16.